The Indian Railways has rationalised its passenger fare structure with effect from December 26, stating that the move involves only a marginal increase in select categories while protecting suburban commuters and short-distance travellers. According to the revised structure, there will be no increase in fares for suburban services and monthly season tickets (MSTs). Similarly, passengers travelling up to 215 km in ordinary class will not face any fare hike. For longer journeys, the Railways has introduced a modest increase. Ordinary class passengers travelling beyond 215 km will pay an additional 1 paise per kilometre, while mail and express trains in non-AC categories will see an increase of 2 paise per kilometre. AC class fares will also rise by 2 paise per kilometre, the Railways said. It further emphasised that the impact on passengers would be minimal. For instance, on a 500 km journey in non-AC coaches, passengers will have to pay only Rs 10 more under the revised fare structure. The Railways is expected to earn approximately Rs 600 crore during the current year as a result of this fare rationalisation. Explaining the rationale behind the move, the Railways said it has significantly expanded its network and operations over the past decade, leading to higher operational requirements. To manage increased train operations and improve safety standards, the Railways has expanded its workforce. Rising manpower costs drive fare rationalisation As a result, manpower costs have risen to Rs 1.15 lakh crore, while pension expenditure has increased to Rs 60,000 crore. The total operational cost for 2024–25 has gone up to Rs 2.63 lakh crore, the Railways said. To meet these rising expenses, the Railways is focusing on higher cargo loading along with limited passenger fare rationalisation, while continuing to pursue its broader social obligations. The Railways, in a press release, also highlighted improvements in safety and operational efficiency. India has emerged as the second-largest cargo-carrying railway system in the world, aided by enhanced infrastructure and better operations. The successful mobilisation of more than 12,000 trains during the recent festive season was cited as an example of improved efficiency. The Railways said it would continue efforts to enhance efficiency and contain costs, while ensuring affordable travel for the public and meeting its social objectives.
21 December,2025 03:37 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Nationalist Congress Party’s once-unshakeable stronghold in Pimpri-Chinchwad witnessed a decisive political rupture on Saturday, as 17 senior leaders from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction—including former mayors and standing committee chairpersons—formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The mass defection marks a critical turning point in the region’s political history, signalling the near-complete dismantling of a power structure that for over two decades symbolised the Pawar family’s urban dominance. A former NCP fortress For years after its formation in 1999, Pimpri-Chinchwad was synonymous with the NCP’s political authority. Under Sharad Pawar’s strategic leadership and Ajit Pawar’s firm organisational control in the Pune region, the party built a formidable grassroots network. The NCP ruled the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) for multiple terms, controlled key civic institutions and shaped the city’s development agenda. This period—from the early 2000s to the mid-2010s—was widely regarded as the party’s golden phase. Ajit Pawar played a central role in consolidating the party’s urban base. His influence over corporators, mayors and local leaders ensured organisational discipline and consistent electoral success. Pimpri-Chinchwad emerged as an unquestioned NCP bastion, often influencing political equations beyond municipal limits. Erosion after 2017 The first visible crack appeared in 2017, when the BJP wrested control of the PCMC from the NCP, marking a significant erosion of the party’s dominance. The BJP’s rapid expansion in urban Maharashtra further weakened the NCP’s hold. However, the most damaging blow came from within. The split between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar fractured the party’s core, creating confusion among workers and voters. Divided loyalties weakened organisational cohesion, triggering resignations and steady defections. Pimpri-Chinchwad—once a symbol of unified Pawar leadership—turned into contested political terrain. Defections signal collapse Saturday’s mass induction of senior NCP leaders into the BJP appears to be the culmination of this decline. The entry of former mayors, standing committee chairpersons and veteran corporators—once pillars of the NCP’s civic administration—underscores how deeply the party’s local structure has been hollowed out. What began as gradual attrition has now assumed the character of a political collapse. Senior leaders view the Pimpri-Chinchwad setback as more than an electoral loss. It stands as a case study in how internal rivalry, leadership fractures and shifting alliances can dismantle even the strongest political bastions. A city that once anchored the NCP’s urban power now mirrors the party’s broader struggle for coherence and relevance. High-stakes civic battle ahead With the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections approaching, both the BJP and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP have announced plans to contest independently, intensifying competition for former corporators. After Ajit Pawar recently inducted former BJP standing committee chairpersons and ex-corporators into his party, the BJP responded with a show of strength in Mumbai. Those joining the BJP include leaders from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction), Congress and independents. Former BJP corporator Ravi Landge, who had earlier joined the Shiv Sena (Thackeray), also returned to the party. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has categorically ruled out any alliance for the civic polls, terming the contest with the Ajit Pawar-led NCP a “friendly fight.” Ajit Pawar, meanwhile, has declared that he will spare no effort to regain control of the PCMC and has begun reaching out to disgruntled BJP leaders, claiming several former corporators are in touch. Similar churn in Pune A parallel political churn was also witnessed in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), where the BJP delivered a significant blow to both the NCP and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP). Several former corporators from both factions were inducted into the BJP on Saturday, despite the parties being allies at the state and national levels. Prominent among the NCP (SP) entrants were Surendra Pathare, son of sitting legislator Bapu Pathare, and former corporator Sachin Dodke, considered close to NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule. From the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, former corporators Sayali Wanjale, Vikas Dangat, Bala Dhankawade and Rohini Chimate joined the BJP. Leaders including Narayan Galande, Gana Chavan (son of former MP Vasantrao Chavan), Khandu Londhe, former Khadakwasla sarpanch Santosh Mate, and Anil Tupe from the NCP (SP) were also inducted. The bigger picture Together, the developments in Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune underline a decisive shift in urban Maharashtra’s political landscape. Once impregnable NCP bastions are witnessing accelerated erosion, while the BJP continues to consolidate its dominance. Mahesh Landge, BJP MLA from Bhosari (Pune), said:“On the occasion of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections 2025–26, senior leaders, office-bearers and former corporators from various political parties have officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the guidance of state BJP president Ravindra Chavan. I warmly welcome all respected leaders of Pimpri-Chinchwad into the BJP family. Committed to the ideals of nation, faith, culture and development-oriented Hindutva, we are determined to secure an undisputed victory for the BJP in Pimpri-Chinchwad.” Shankar Jagtap, BJP MLA from Chinchwad, said, “Pimpri-Chinchwad has earned many identities—as an industrial hub, an IT-ICT centre and a smart city. The city provides employment on one hand and world-class civic facilities on the other. This progress has been achieved due to the consistent efforts of the city’s elected representatives. Corporators and office-bearers across parties have played a crucial role, often setting aside political differences for the sake of development. Those who have joined the BJP today share the same commitment to keeping Pimpri-Chinchwad on the path of progress. With their support, we are confident that the city’s development momentum will continue in the years ahead.”
21 December,2025 02:49 PM IST | Pune | Archana DahiwalPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday morning set sail on river Brahmaputra on a cruise ship, as he began his interaction with students during a 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' programme on the second day of his Assam visit. A total of 25 students from various schools of Assam are taking part in the event. Modi is scheduled to interact with the students for around 45 minutes aboard the three-deck 'M V Charaidew 2', officials said. He arrived at the Guwahati Gateway Terminal of the Inland Water Transport (IWT), inaugurated recently by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and moved to the ship along the floating bridge. Security has been heightened along the entire area with the River Police, NDRF and SDRF personnel patrolling the river since early morning, the officials said. Ferry services on river Brahmaputra have been suspended for two days since Saturday in the wake of Modi's visit. The students participating in the programme have been selected from schools in Kamrup Metropolitan, Morigaon, Dibrugarh, Cachar, Sribhumi, Baksa, Dima Hasao, Kokrajhar, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, and Nalbari districts. They represent government, residential and private schools, including the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, PM Shri schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Assam Jatiya Bidyalay, Don Bosco institutions, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, the officials said. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier said that the PM's visit to Kaziranga last year led to a surge in tourist footfalls, and the same is expected for river tourism. 'We expect the same catalytic effect on river tourism in Assam when the PM takes a cruise on the Brahmaputra for Pariksha pe Charcha,' he had said. 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' is held annually since 2018 to help students cope with examination pressure, and promote a balanced approach to learning and mental health. The initiative aims to reduce examination-related stress and encourage students to speak openly about academics, career aspirations, and mental well-being. During the programme, Modi interacts with students, offering valuable advice on tackling board and entrance exams in a calm and stress-free manner. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
21 December,2025 02:21 PM IST | Guwahati | PTITwo youths from Mathura will be honoured with the Samaritan Citizen Award for rescuing nearly 100 people injured in a major road accident on the Yamuna Expressway earlier this week. The tragedy occurred around 4 am on Tuesday near Milestone 127 under the Baldev Police Station limits, when dense fog led to a pile-up involving several buses and cars. The collision triggered a massive fire, killing 19 people and injuring more than 50 others. Amid the chaos, local residents Yogesh Sikarwar and Bhura rushed to the spot and helped pull injured passengers out of burning vehicles, assisting them into ambulances before official rescue teams arrived. Superintendent of Police (Rural) Suresh Chandra Rawat said the duo would be felicitated at the Republic Day event. “They will be given a citation and a cash reward of '25,000. A proposal is also being sent to the Prime Minister’s Office for honouring them at the national level,” he said. Bhura, who was scheduled to submit his application for the Uttar Pradesh Home Guards the same day, chose instead to help the injured. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 December,2025 02:17 PM IST | Mathura | AgenciesSeven elephants were killed, and one was injured after a herd of jumbos was hit by the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express in Assam’s Hojai district early Saturday, officials said. Five coaches and the train’s engine also derailed, officials said. Initially, all eight elephants were reported to have been killed, though later it was said that one of the calves was found injured. No passengers were injured in the accident, which occurred at 2.17 am. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of the BJP has asked the Forest department to conduct a detailed enquiry and secure wildlife corridors, while state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi blamed “unplanned and poorly regulated development under the present government” for the accident. Top Forest Department officers have reached the site and will take up the matter with Railway officials to prevent such incidents. Several trains have been cancelled or short-terminated following the mishap. Nagaon Divisional Forest Officer Suhas Kadam said that the accident in Changjurai village is suspected to have occurred due to heavy fog in the area. “Autopsy of the dead jumbos is underway, and treatment is on for the injured one by local veterinary doctors. Cremation will be done near the accident site. Legal formalities are being followed,” he said. NFR chief spokesperson Kapinjal Kishore Sharma claimed that the accident took place at a location which is not a designated elephant corridor. “The train driver, on observing the herd of elephants, applied emergency brakes. However, the jumbos dashed with the train,” he added. Trains scheduled to pass through the affected section have been diverted through the UP line, and restoration work is underway, Sharma added. He further said that nine trains have been cancelled, 13 regulated, and two short-terminated following the accident. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 December,2025 02:15 PM IST | Assam | AgenciesPrime Minister Narendra Modi visited Assam on Saturday. In a rally after inaugurating a new terminal of the Guwahati airport he attacked the Congress for “neglecting” Assam and the Northeast during its rule, and asserted that the BJP government was correcting “mistakes” the grand old party kept making in the region for decades. “The Congress gave protection to infiltrators who grabbed forests and land, threatening the security and identity of Assam... The BJP government has been correcting mistakes the Congress kept making for decades in the Northeast,” the PM asserted. The airport he announced is the “country’s first nature-themed airport”, designed to handle 131 lakh passengers per year, officials said. The R5000-crore project has been developed by Guwahati International Airport Ltd, with operations led by Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. On Sunday the PM lay to foundation stone for a Rs 10,600-crore brownfield ammonia-urea plant in Dibrugarh district of Assam. Modi arrived in Assam on Saturday on a two-day trip, during which he is set to unveil multiple projects worth Rs 15,600 crore. All of this comes around three months before the state is due to go for assembly polls. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 December,2025 02:12 PM IST | Guwahati | AgenciesDense fog engulfed large parts of North India on Saturday morning, severely reducing visibility and disrupting daily life across several states. A thick blanket of fog, compounded by high pollution levels, led to near-zero visibility in many areas. In Agra, the iconic Taj Mahal was almost completely obscured by fog. The footage, shot from the Taj View Point, showed the monument disappearing into a dense white haze, leaving only faint outlines visible. Several tourists and locals expressed disappointment after being unable to view the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The visuals quickly drew reactions on social media, with users remarking on the unusually poor visibility and joking that the Taj Mahal had “vanished” behind the fog. Others compared the experience to seeing the monument only in postcards rather than in real life. Users online reacted saying, “North India winter doing VFX on a Wonder of the World” and “Where’s Taj Mahal, bro?” In response to the prevailing cold wave and dense fog, the Agra district administration announced revised school timings. From December 20 until further notice, all council, aided and recognised schools, including CBSE and ICSE institutions, will operate from 10 am to 3 pm for students from Classes 1 to 8. Dense fog was also reported in Ayodhya, where visibility remained low throughout the morning. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded a minimum temperature of 9 degrees Celsius in the city. The IMD has issued an orange alert for dense to very dense fog across parts of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, warning that foggy conditions are likely to persist on Sunday as well. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 December,2025 02:10 PM IST | Agra | AgenciesThe state BJP office in Assam has been decked up to welcome PM Narendra Modi on Saturday, state party president Dilip Saikia said. Modi is likely to focus on organisational matters during his interaction with party leaders when he visits the Vajpayee Bhawan in Basistha area of the city, Saikia told PTI. "This is the first time that a Prime Minister will be visiting our state party office. We are looking forward to welcoming him", he said. Modi will arrive in Guwahati on a two-day tour of the state on Saturday afternoon. He will be visiting the party office in the evening as part of his first day's programme. The new state party office was inaugurated in October 2022 by BJP national president J P Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. State BJP spokesperson Dewan Dhruba Jyoti Maral said about 280 party leaders will be present in the closed-door meeting. He said the invitees include former state party presidents, former and incumbent MPs, ministers, MLAs. Maral said nearly one lakh people are expected to welcome the PM along the 25-km route from the Guwahati airport to the state party office. Cultural troupes of nearly all communities of the state will be performing along the route, with Modi scheduled to participate in a roadshow on the stretch, he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
20 December,2025 05:18 PM IST | Guwahati | PTIDelhi Police has arrested two brothers with 1.068 charas, along with THC and OG in commercial quantity, an official said on Saturday. While OG refers to a cannabis strain known for its potent effects, THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis. The accused, identified as Ritanshu Gund (25) and his younger brother Rhythm Gund (20), both residents of Hari Nagar in west Delhi, were arrested on December 17 from the Tihar Jail Road in Janakpuri while allegedly attempting to supply narcotics in a car, a senior Delhi Police officer said. Based on a tip-off about the movement of drug peddlers in the area, police laid a trap on the Tihar Jail Road. When the suspects were signalled to stop, they allegedly tried to flee but were chased and overpowered by police, the officer said. During a search of their vehicle, police found 1.068 kg of charas, 98 grams of THC and 174 grams of OG, he said. The car used to transport the contraband was also seized. A case under relevant sections of the NDPS Act has been registered, and both accused have been arrested, the officer said. Ritanshu is a graduate who earlier assisted his father in his heavy vehicle spare parts business. He was previously involved in a criminal case registered at the Hari Nagar police station, in which his brother Rhythm, a second-year college student in Haryana's Sohna, was also named, the officer said. Police said the two brothers allegedly turned to drug trafficking after being lured by the prospect of making easy money. They were involved in the supply of narcotic substances in Delhi and adjoining areas. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
20 December,2025 05:17 PM IST | New Delhi [India] | PTIThree men have been arrested in Bijnor district for the illegal sale and non-medical use of codeine-laced cough syrup amid an ongoing statewide crackdown on an alleged codeine syrup racket, police said on Saturday. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Krishna Gopal Singh, said the arrests were made following a complaint filed by drug inspector Umesh Kumar Bharti on November 23 against Arun, Shivanshu and Resab, all residents of Bijnor, for the unauthorised sale and use of codeine-laced syrup. "After investigation, all three accused were arrested on Friday", the ASP said, adding that the drive against illegal narcotics trade would continue. Another case related to the illegal sale of codeine-laced syrup is under investigation, and arrests will be made soon, the officer said. The action follows a wider probe into an alleged illegal network involved in the storage and distribution of highly-regulated codeine-laced cough syrups across Uttar Pradesh. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is examining diversion of medicines, financial transactions and links among the accused, with police citing evidence of "super-stockists" and cross-border trafficking to Nepal and Bangladesh. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
20 December,2025 05:17 PM IST | Bijnor (UP) | PTIIn a tragic accident in West Bengal's Nadia district, four people lost their lives after being hit by a train; two others were injured as they were on their way to Taherpur. The incident happened where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold a public meeting on Saturday. The police, while briefing about the incident, said, “The deceased and injured were among a group of people who were on their way to attend the Prime Minister's rally. It is learnt that all the deceased and injured are from Murshidabad district,” as cited by IANS. As soon as the authorities got to know about the incident, senior railway and police officials rushed to the spot. Furthermore, an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident. The incident occurred near Taherpur station As reported by IANS, 40 people had arrived from Murshidabad on Friday night to attend PM Modi's rally. All of them are reportedly from Sabaldah village in the Burwan area. Some of them went to the railway tracks to relieve themselves in the early morning. At that time, they were hit by an approaching train, and four of them were thrown onto the tracks. The injuries were so severe that they died on the spot. Two people were admitted to the local Shaktinagar Hospital in a critical condition. According to hospital sources, one person's condition is serious. As per the reports and prima facie, it appears that the accident occurred due to significantly reduced visibility caused by dense fog this morning. The train was not visible, leading to the accident. However, other aspects are also being investigated. A senior police officer, while briefing about the incident, said, "Four persons who were hit by a train died on the spot, while two others who were near the railway tracks were injured. They are being treated at a hospital. The incident took place early in the morning. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, as per IANS. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already reached Nadia's Taherpur to address a public meeting against the backdrop of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. (With inputs from IANS)
20 December,2025 02:51 PM IST | West Bengal | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
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